Coming Events

Published in the Tacoma WeeklyWednesday, 10 October 2012

TW PICK: Do not miss the only Nordic/Scandinavian festival this fall in the South Sound. This Nordic Festival will take place Oct. 13, and will feature many vendors of traditional Nordic arts, crafts, baked goods, music, antiques and artifacts. Meatb

Fri., Oct. 12

Benefit concert

Tacoma Friends Meeting House is holding a benefit concert featuring folksinger and storyteller Tom Rawson at 7:30 p.m. at its location at 2508 S. 39th St. For directions, visit http://tacoma.quaker.org. Admission is by free will donation, and no one will be turned away. Support the work of Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation, and join Rawson for an evening of humorous stories, user-friendly songs and acoustic folk philosophy that is guaranteed to leave listeners smiling. Armed with longneck banjo and other weapons of mass delight, Rawson will have you singing along in no time. Tune up your vocal chords: you will need them! Info: (253) 536-9185.

Sun., Oct. 14

Oktoberfest dinner

ETC – The Knights of Columbus Tacoma Council 809 will be serving German sausage, schnitzel, rot kraut, German potato salad, bread, apple strudel and beverages at St. Patrick’s Church Hall. The church is located at North 11th and ‘I’ streets. Pre-sale price is $11.50 or $15 at the door.

Mon., Oct. 15

An evening with Rosemary Wells

ETC – Rosemary Wells’ career as an author and illustrator spans more than 30 years and 60 books. She has won numerous awards, and has given readers such unforgettable characters as Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora and Yoko. She has also given Mother Goose new life in two enormous, definitive editions, published by Candlewick. This event is for her grown-up fans, for the teachers, educators and everyone else who has grown up and taught with and from her books for years. Wells will talk about incorporating her work into curriculum and the importance of teaching children’s literature. This is not a story time! A book signing will follow, with books available for purchase. The event takes place at 7 p.m. in the Main Library’s Olympic Room. The Main Library is located at 1102 Tacoma Ave. S. Info: http://www.tpl.lib.wa.us.

Oct. 31

‘Frighthouse’ Square

ETC – Halloween is just around the corner and already Tacoma’s historic Freighthouse Square is making big plans to celebrate the holiday with contests, prizes, live entertainment and trick-or-treating throughout the Square for the community. Visit on Halloween Day from 4-7 p.m. There will be trick-or-treating, a magic show and balloon artist from 6-7 p.m., and through Oct. 26, children ages 6 and under and 7 to 12 can visit http://www.freighthousesquare.com and download a special Halloween coloring contest drawing. Once completed, artwork can be dropped off at Freighthouse Square (2501 E. ‘D’ St.,) at any store or restaurant. Prizewinners will be announced Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. in the Freighthouse Square Art Gallery. Info: www.freighthousesquare.com.

BULLETIN BOARD

Harvest Festival

HAPPENINGS – Metro Parks is holding a series of events to celebrate fall, with Harvest Festivals taking place Oct. 12 at Portland Avenue Community Center (3513 Portland Ave.), Oct. 19 at Center at Norpoint (4818 Nassau Ave. N.E.) and Oct. 26 at People’s Community Center (1602 MLK Jr. Way). The festival will feature bounce houses, arts and crafts activities, movie nights, family-friendly games and more. Games and activities will take place from 5-7 p.m., and the movie will begin at 7 p.m. Info: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org.

‘Scapes’

ART – Venetian artists Laura de Santillana and Alessandro Diaz de Santillana have joined forces to create “Scapes,” a dynamic and entirely new body of work at Museum of Glass. The exhibition comprises four rooms based on the Hindu belief that the universe is divided into separate spheres of existence: Earth, Space, Sun, and Moon and Constellations. The de Santillanas have interpreted elements of the Hindu cosmology in glass, creating spaces in which forms and colors correspond to physical phenomena, or the visible universe, and evoke an atmosphere of cosmic vibration. Each installation is composed of a limited, but strikingly vibrant, color palette. The exhibit runs until January.

Northwest Art

ART – “Best of the Northwest: Selected Paintings from the Collection” is on display at Tacoma Art Museum. The works on view are some of the best from its collection of paintings by Northwest artists. It runs until March.

‘Origins’

ART – “Origins: Early Works by Dale Chihuly” runs through Oct. 21 at the Museum of Glass. The exhibit showcases works made by Chihuly in his early career, from 1968 through the 1980s. The artwork displayed includes 30 transitional pieces from prominent local collections and the museum’s permanent collection, along with historic exhibit posters from the Mary Hale Cockran Library. Collectively, the works chronicle Chihuly’s influence as an artist, a visionary and a pioneer of the American studio glass movement. Info: http://www.museumofglass.org.

Glass Art Master

ART – Museum of Glass is showcasing items created by a glass art master over the past 10 years in “Maestro: Recent Works by Lino Tagliapietra.” The Italian artist has invented numerous techniques and designs that are technically flawless and visually breathtaking, yet filled with complexity and difficulty. He is recognized around the world as the maestro of contemporary glass. The exhibition shows his evolution to larger works, bolder colors and patterns over his nearly 50 years as an artist. It runs through Jan. 6, 2013.

‘Hope in Hard Times’

ART – Washington State History Museum’s “Hope in Hard Times” exhibit showcases the 1929 Wall Street collapse as it plunged Americans into a period of great uncertainty as unemployment skyrocketed, banks failed and housing foreclosures hit record highs. President Herbert Hoover put it succinctly: “About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.” “Hope in Hard Times” shares how ordinary people worked for change in their communities, pulling together to find ways to deal with the crisis. A billy club used during the 1934 “Battle of Smith Cove,” Works Progress Administration artifacts and everyday items are among some of the objects showcased in this exhibition. The paintings and sketches of Ronald Debs Ginther, also featured in the exhibition, comprise one of the more complete visual records of the Great Depression. The exhibit runs through Nov. 4. Info: http://www.washingtonhistory.org.

MUSIC – Ted Brown Music Tacoma hosts a free, all-ages drum circle every Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. You do not need to have a drum to participate. For more info contact Ted Brown Music at (253) 272-3211 or visit http://www.tedbrownmusic.com.

Support Group

ETC – Suffering from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue? Attend this support group, which meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 4:15-5:15 p.m. at the Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities building, located at 6315 S. 19th St. The group’s mission is to improve the morale of people coping with these challenges. Its activities include face-to-face encouragement, networking, sharing of resources as well as individual discoveries.

Charity Boot Camp

ETC – Jeff Jowers, owner and founder of Tacoma’s Ultimate Fitness Boot Camps, is hosting charity fitness boot camps every Saturday benefiting Mary Bridge Tree House. People who sign up for Ultimate Fitness Boot Camp can now donate pieces of clothing, which earns them a spot in a fast-paced, interval-style class free of charge. Info: http://www.tacomabootcamps.com.

Free First Weekends

ETC – Bank of America bankcard holders and employees receive free admission to the Tacoma Art Museum the first weekend of every month as part of Bank of America’s national Museums on Us program. Info: http://museums.bankofamerica.com.

Organizing for America

ETC – Organizing For America is a grassroots movement with the goal of re-electing President Barack Obama in 2012. It is an organization of volunteers hoping to educate, recruit and build a strong network all across the United States. The group welcomes all interested parties to attend their monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at Native Quest, located at 2354 Jefferson Ave. in Tacoma.

The Valley Chorale

ETC – The Valley Chorale, a soprano-alto-tenor-bass singing group, meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Aylen Junior High School, located at 101 15th St. S.W. in Puyallup. If you like singing, contact Joy Heidal at (253) 848-1134 or Dixie Byrne at (253) 677-5291 for more information and a personal invitation to join the group.

Memory loss support

ETC – Caring for someone with memory loss? Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support groups provide a consistent and caring place for people to learn, share and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with dementia. A free information and support group for care partners, family members and friends of individuals with dementia will be held the second Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7410 S. 12th St. Contact group facilitator Chuck Benefiel at (253) 584-3267.

Ukulele Circle

MUSIC – Ted Brown Music Tacoma hosts a free, all-ages ukulele circle every Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. For more info contact Ted Brown Music at (253) 272-3211 or visit http://www.tedbrownmusic.com.